Gladiolus are available with flowers in a huge range of colours, including apricot, blue, burgundy, pink, gold, red, orange, and white, as well as multicoloured varieties.

The plants bloom in midsummer; however, you can prolong the bloom period by choosing early, mid, and late season types and staggering planting times. Height ranges from 2 to 6 feet.

Today s gardeners can choose from a wide range of flower forms, colours and heights, so there s certainly a gladiolus for everyone s taste. Gladiolus are generally grouped by flower size into classes from miniature to giant.

Gladiolus are native to South Africa and grow best on a sunny site in sandy loam soil with good water drainage. Any soil that is good for growing vegetables is good for gladiolus. Mix compost into planting beds in spring to help with water drainage and fertility. Gladiolus don t compete well with other plants or weeds, so for best results, keep the area around them open.

Planting & CareGladiolus plants grow wonderfully in the warm weather of summer. You can produce these flowers in sequence by planting some corms every few weeks or so. Learning how to take care of gladiolus will reward you with a huge array of colours and they also work out great for cut flowers. Let’s look at how to grow gladiolus.

You will want to plant the gladiolus deeper than usual because they have a tall sheaf of leaves. This will help anchor them against strong winds that might blow them over to the ground.

Sunlight: Full sun

Soil: Gladiolus prefer well-drained and even sandy soil

Water: If you get less than 1 inch of rain a week, water your plants regularly throughout the summer. Otherwise, water them moderately when in growth to keep the soil moist.

Fertilizer: You will want to fertilize the corms with 5-10-10 or 5-10-5 fertilizer. Put the recommended amount in the bottom of the planting area, but be sure to mix the soil and fertilizer well so you don’t burn the corm. Add a layer of unfertilized soil before placing the corm into the trench.

Harvesting: If you re growing gladiolus so you can cut blooms for bouquets, flower spikes should be cut on a slant when the lowest flowers on the stalk begin to show colour. When cutting the flower stalk, leave at least four leaves on the plant to feed the corm for next year s blooms. Immerse the cut end of the flower spike in water immediately after cutting.

Care:

Put a 2– to 4–inch layer of mulch around your gladioli to keep your soil moist and help prevent weeds.

If you get less than 1 inch of rain a week, water your plants regularly throughout the summer.

Otherwise, water them moderately when in growth to keep the soil moist.

Remove the faded/dead flowers to ensure continuous growth.

Once all the flowers on a stalk have gone, cut off the stalk.

Be sure to leave the plant intact so it can mature and rejuvenate the corms for the next season.

If you live in zones 7 or 8, put down a layer of hay or straw for winter protection.

Corms should be dug before the last frost in you live in zone 7 or ones colder.

UseOrnamental use:

There is no flower more stunning in an arrangement than gladiolus.

They are popular curt flowers for all occasions, from weddings to funerals.

Even though they are mostly know as a cut flower, gladiolus look beautiful in the flower garden as well, especially when grouped together and planted next to complimentary flowers.

If you want colour, gladiolus is your flower.

Varieties are available in almost any colour of the rainbow, with many having frilly flowers and bi-coloured blooms.

The sword-like leaves yield a spiky flower stalk with individual flowers that bloom from the bottom up.